Your medicine

Diabetes leads to problems controlling blood sugar levels. Diamicron increases the amount of insulin produced by the body. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body to use the sugar in the blood properly and it helps to prevent the blood sugar level from becoming too high.

In diabetes, the body may not be able to produce enough insulin or the insulin that it produces may not have the full effect. In some instances, the body may not be able to produce any insulin at all. These can all lead to problems controlling the blood sugar level.

It is very important that your blood sugar level is well controlled. Blood sugar levels which are too high or too low can be dangerous. Your prescriber or a member of your diabetes team will be able to give you information on how to recognise the warning signs of high and low blood sugar levels. They will also be able to tell you what to do if either of these occurs.

Warning signs can vary from person to person. If the usual warning signs of poorly controlled blood sugar levels change or disappear, you should contact your prescriber or a member of your diabetes team.

The amount of Diamicron you need to control your blood sugar levels will be worked out by your prescriber or your diabetes team. They may also advise you to measure your blood sugar regularly – they will show you how to do this. If you are having problems controlling or measuring your blood sugar, you should contact your prescriber or a member of your diabetes team.

Other information about Diamicron:

your doctor may start you on a low dose of this medicine and then increase the dose depending on how you respond to treatment

your prescriber may vary the dose of your medicine to find what is best for controlling your blood sugar level, especially if your circumstances change. These circumstances may include: if you have a high temperature; if you have an infection; changes to your health during periods of illness, trauma or emotional stress; if you are about to have surgery; changes to your diet and timing of your meals; or changes to the amount of physical activity that you are doing

Do not share your medicine with other people. It may not be suitable for them and may harm them.

When to take your medicine

Some medicines work best if they are taken at a specific time of day. Getting the most from your medicine can also be affected by what you eat, when you eat and the times at which you take other medicines.

In the case of Diamicron:

Diamicron should be taken as a single dose in the morning at breakfast time

How to take your medicine

Some medicines have specific instructions about how to take them. This is because they work better when taken correctly. These instructions can include getting the right dose and special instructions for preparing the medicine. Make sure you follow any specific instructions given to you by your prescriber or that are in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this medicine.

If you are having problems taking this form of Diamicron, you should talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. They may be able to give you advice on other ways to take your medicine or other preparations that are easier for you to take.

Taking too much of your medicine

Taking extra doses of some medicines can be harmful. In some cases even one extra dose can cause you problems. If you take extra doses of your medicine, you must get medical advice immediately. You may need a test to assess the effect of taking extra doses. This is because the effects of taking too much medicine are very complex so it is very important that you seek medical advice.

Stopping your medicine

Suddenly stopping your medicine may cause very high blood sugar levels. This can be very dangerous. This is why you must speak to your prescriber or a member of your diabetes team if you are having any problems taking your medicine.

If you are not having any problems taking this medicine, do not stop taking it unless advised to do so by your prescriber or a member of your diabetes team.

Looking after your medicine

The instructions on how you should keep your medicine are on the pharmacy label. You should keep your medicine in the original container. This will help to keep your medicine in the best condition and also allow you to check the instructions. Do not take the medicine if the packaging appears to have been tampered with or if the medicine shows any signs of damage. Make sure that the medicine is out of the sight and reach of children.

Whether this medicine is suitable for you

Diamicron is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.

Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:

you are at risk of developing hypoglycaemia because of having an inadequate diet. This includes being malnourished, having a low-calorie diet, eating at irregular intervals, skipping meals, fasting, or exercising excessively

Furthermore, the prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all for a child, an adolescent or for someone who is in a coma.

As part of the process of assessing suitability to take this medicine a prescriber may also arrange tests:

Over time it is possible that Diamicron can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Diamicron has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.

The following side effects have been reported in people who have had medicines similar to Diamicron. The frequency of these side-effects in people who take Diamicron is not known:

If you feel unwell or if you have concerns about a side-effect, you will need to seek advice. If you feel very ill, get medical help straight away. Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, nurse or call 111.

Driving and operating machinery

When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

In the case of Diamicron:

your ability to drive or operate machinery may be affected if your blood sugar levels are low

You should see how this medicine affects you before you judge whether you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt about whether you should drive or operate machinery, talk to your prescriber.

Family planning and pregnancy

Most medicines, in some way, can affect the development of a baby in the womb. The effect on the baby differs between medicines and also depends on the stage of pregnancy that you have reached when you take the medicine.

if you become pregnant, or think you have become pregnant while taking Diamicron, you must contact your prescriber

People with diabetes may start to have insulin instead of Diamicron to control their blood sugar during pregnancy. If you are taking Diamicron and are planning to become pregnant, become pregnant or think that you are pregnant, talk to a member of your diabetes team. For more information on managing your diet and your diabetes during your pregnancy, talk to your prescriber or a member of your diabetes or antenatal team.

Before you have your baby you should discuss breast-feeding with your doctor or midwife. They will help you decide what is best for you and your baby based on the benefits and risks associated with this medicine. If you wish to breast-feed you should discuss with your prescriber whether there are any other medicines you could take which would also allow you to breast-feed. You should not stop this medicine without taking advice from your doctor.

Ingredients of your medicine

Medicines contain active ingredients. They may also contain other, additional ingredients that help ensure the stability, safety and effectiveness of the medicine. They are also added to improve the medicine's taste and appearance and to make it easier to take. Some may be used to prolong the life of the medicine.

You should check that you are able to take the ingredients in your medicine, especially if you have any allergies.